How Physical Therapy Can Help With Knee Pain

Your knees are basically joints that are made of two main parts connecting the femur and the tibia. The kneecap, or patella, is on the top of your knee which is supported by 4 ligaments and buffered by 2 menisci. When any of these parts become damaged or overworked, it can result in pain or lack of mobility.

When you have pain in your knees, even the smallest tasks can seem insurmountable. Thankfully there are ways you can manage your pain without medicine by visiting Ultimate Health Clinic for physiotherapy for your knees.

Types of Knee Pain

Understanding the type of knee pain you have is the best way to ascertain which physical therapy treatments will be most beneficial. There are three main types of pain: chronic, sub-acute, and acute.

• Chronic knee pain should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. It is considered chronic pain when it has been present for more than 3 months and doesn’t lessen, even with rest or therapy.
• Sub-acute pain is that which presents itself two weeks following external trauma or injury. This type of pain is usually responsive to gentle therapy that helps to restore mobility and function.
• Acute pain is typically the most severe and presents itself immediately following the trauma. At this stage, rest and compression are suggested to reduce pain and promote healing.

Physical Therapy Assessment

Before you start a regimen of physical therapy, our specialist will evaluate and asses your lower body to properly understand and treat your pain. This evaluation will cover the area from the top of your hip all the way down to your foot. Once the location of your knee pain is discovered, the physical therapist will be able to craft a plan that works to restore the faulty structures in your knee that are responsible for pain. When you visit the Ultimate Health Clinic for your therapy sessions you should be prepared to undergo an evaluation to examine your gait, palpations to gauge pain response, a range of motion measurements, and various balance assessments.

What to Expect From Your Physical Therapy Sessions

Your treatment plan will be tailored specifically for your body and to treat your specific knee pain. As such, it is important that you take an active role in your treatment. Most treatment plans will use exercise as the main tool for healing. Some of these may include:

• Straight leg raises
• Hip crunches
• Quad sets
• Balance drills
• Hip thrust
• Lower body stretches

Along with performing these in the physical therapy clinic, you will be expected to continue your routine at home. In addition to these exercises, you may be treated with passive methods such as:

• Kinesiology taping
• Electric stimulation
• Ice packs
• Ultrasound
• Heating pads
• Joint manipulation

How We Can Help

All of these methods should produce positive results within a short time frame. If for whatever reason you are still experiencing extreme pain after three weeks, you should schedule an appointment with your regular doctor for further evaluation. If you are ready to get rid of your knee pain without medication, give the Ultimate Health Clinic a call at 905-251-0162 to find out how we can help.